Top five beauty problems solved

All About You online 06.03.2008

How to tackle five of the top cries for help in our email inbox

Pretty woman touching face wearing make up From hair sprouting in places you wish it wasn't, to thread veins making you look as though you've had one too many glasses of wine, beauty problems can range from the irritating to the downright depressing. But don't let trouble in the looks department knock your confidence. There's a solution to every beauty concern.

The problem: Pimply arms
Bumpy pimples on the backs of the upper arms are annoying and unsightly. They aren't related to acne, but are usually caused by a build-up of keratin (the protein found in the skin's outer layers) and your skin not shedding completely.

The solution: Exfoliate daily, using a gentle scrub, such as Body Therapy Smooth and Svelte Soft Exfoliating Scrub from Tesco, £4.99, and moisturise your skin with a body lotion containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), glycolic acid or retinols (vitamin A derivatives) which will encourage cell turnover. Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum with pre-retinol, £33, is good, as is Dove's ProAge Beauty Body Lotion, £4.99, with AHAs.

The problem: Spotty back
As the skin on your back has a high proportion of oil glands, if you add perspiration from exercise or getting overheated in clothes you may get breakouts. There's usually a build-up of dead skin cells too as it is hard to exfoliate your back, which in turn leads to blemishes.

The solution: Use a long-handled natural bristle brush in the shower to keep your back free of dead surface skin. You could try a specialist 'back facial', such as Guinot Back Hydradermie, £46 to £49 (01344 873123), which deep-cleanses and exfoliates from the nape of the neck to the base of the spine.
If 'backne' is an extension of facial spots, see a dermatologist, who can recommend specialist creams and medicines, rather than suffering in silence.

The problem: Facial hair
Another of life's cruelties, facial hair is governed by genetics and age. Hormonal imbalances could also be a culprit, but you'd be likely to have other symptoms too.

The solution: The only way to solve the problem of excess hair on your face is to remove it. Or bleach it, though generally this only generates good results on fine hair. There are the low-tech methods, including depilatories, waxing and threading, all of which are good, but have short-lived results.

For longer-term results, dig a bit deeper in your pocket and try Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or laser hair removal. Both zap hairs with light and either damage or destroy the hair follicle. Results are best on dark hair against pale skin, though there are certain machines and settings which work on all colourings, including black and Asian skin. The danger with the latter is the risk of pigmentation, so personal recommendation is probably best when looking for a practitioner.

As not all hairs are growing at the same rate at any given time, several sessions are needed over a period of months to ensure they are all zapped. Although you can have these procedures in a beauty salon or spa, do check the practitioner's qualifications. A two-day course is probably not enough to let someone loose on your skin with a laser, though if they are very experienced they may well be better than a GP who has just bought a machine as a potentially lucrative sideline! You can always try www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk for a reputable practitioner.

See our feature on hair removal for more information.

The problem: Thread veins and redness on the cheeks
Thread veins on the face are most likely caused by sun exposure and the older you get, and the thinner your skin gets, the more visible they become.

The solution: Little thread veins can be zapped with lasers that use specific wavelengths of light to target and destroy blood vessels under the skin. Depending on the area and number of thread veins, one to three sessions are usually needed. Thread veins can still pop up in untreated areas afterwards, but it is on the whole a very effective treatment and well worth the couple of hundred pounds it costs.

If you suffer frequent flushing or persistent redness, see your GP or a dermatologist to rule out rosacea. While it can't be cured, it can be controlled and the sooner you start treating it, the better. Treatments include antibiotics (while rosacea is not bacterial, antibiotics help with inflammation), topical retinoids and lasers.

The problem: Stretch marks
Stretch marks are caused in the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin, where over time, the stretching of the skin causes elasticity to be lost and the breakdown of connective fibres.
They can appear anywhere the skin has been stretched and are usually the result of weight gain and loss or occur during pregnancy and adolescent growth spurts. Genetics also play a part as some people seem to be more susceptible than others to developing stretch marks. At first, they appear pink or brown, depending on your colouring and then usually fade to something more like your skin colour, but with a translucence.

Is there a solution? Keeping your skin well moisturised and using a cream that boosts collagen (such as one containing retinol, a vitamin A derivative) will help maintain the skin's condition so could help prevent or lessen their development as well as help them to fade to a degree. Good creams to look out for include RoC's Retinol Anti-Stretch Marks, £14.99, and Clarins new Stretch Mark Control, £31.
Laser treatment, of which a series of sessions would be needed, may help too. Contact www.cosmeticdoctors.co.uk for a reputable practitioner.